ArkansasGives raises $5.6 million

JONESBORO, AR (KAIT) - A one-day online giving project had nearly 15,000 donations and raised over $5.6 million Thursday to help nonprofit groups around the state.

According to a media release, the ArkansasGives event, sponsored by the Arkansas Community Foundation, asked people to make online gifts to their favorite groups, with almost 930 groups receiving bonus money as well as other prizes.

In total, they raised $5,602,556 on Thursday.

Officials said the non-profits also competed for $60,000 in money from First Security Bank in small, medium, and large groups.

An official with the Arkansas Community Foundation said that the donations will help people in need.

"We set the bar high, and Arkansans stepped up to give more than $5 million in one day!" Heather Larkin, president and CEO of Arkansas Community Foundation said. "Almost 15,000 donations were made today to help fuel missions of Arkansas nonprofits that improve our communities."

The project has raised more than $6 million in the past two years.

Officials said in the media release that non-profits signed up from Oct. 1 until Feb. 14 to participate.

The more money that a supporter donates to the project, the more a non-profit will receive in bonus money and prizes.